smaller rear sprocket

Was looking at the rear sprocket on my newly acquired 550. The rear sprocket looks huge. Does anyone sell one with less teeth?
I have not ridden one of these 550 yet but Im not a hot rodder and wondering if the lower rpms would be good for the bike.
I have a xs650 and I went a couple teeth missing on the rear sprocket.
Any info on a smaller one would be cool.

Im wondering if the sprocket from a xs650 would fit on my hub..

Just checked wont work. Back to wondering

 

45 tooth sprocket if it is a Seca you can go to a taller rear tire to reduce rpm at crusing speed and it will increase top end

if it is a maxim you may be able to put a seca tire on the rear it is 18" unlike the maxim with 16 inches . or a taller 16 tire carefull on the width

I did read an old post that claimed the 81 Seca 550 came with a 44 tooth sprocket

 

which sprocket to consider

XJ PARTS CATALOG, SECTION H: CLUTCH, TRANNY, DRIVETRAIN


Front Output Sprocket and Hardware:

Original cast alloy steel or aftermarket upgraded hardened steel aftermarket front drive sprockets should be replaced every time a new chain is installed.

The original front drive sprocket used on all XJ550 and FJ600 models is a 16-tooth, alloy-steel gear. Upgraded gears are normally made from a higher quality grade of steel, case hardened, hard-chromed and hand-finished for a more durable and uniform fit and function.

Additionally, 15- and 17-tooth gears are also available. A 17-tooth front gear will give you slightly less acceleration (about 5% less), but will, in theory, allow for an increase in your top speed, and also decrease your engine rpm's at any given cruising speed. However, if most of your riding is on the highway, or if top-speed is a great concern of yours, then changing your drive sprocket to a 17-tooth version may be a worthy upgrade for you. Conversely, a 15-tooth front gear is a great way to increase the kick of your engine, although it will turn your ride into a buzz-box at freeway speeds! Please also see the longer discussion of gear ratios under the "rear sprocket" section further below.

rear sprocket
A rear gear with a higher tooth count than stock will give will give quicker acceleration (but may limit top speed), while a rear gear with a lower tooth count than stock results in lower engine rpm's for any given speed, and may allow a higher top speed (if the engine is powerful enough to actually achieve it at max rpm's), but will reduce acceleration.

For a quick performance comparison, here is a chart of the various combinations of drive ratios available using any combination of either a 15-, 16-, or 17-tooth front sprocket along with either a 44-, 45-, or 46-tooth rear sprocket on XJ550 and FJ600 models:

15 front and 46 rear = 3.0667-to-1 ratio (fastest acceleration)
15 front and 45 rear = 3.0000-to-1 ratio
15 front and 44 rear = 2.9333-to-1 ratio
16 front and 46 rear = 2.8750-to-1 ratio (stock 1981 XJ550 Seca)
16 front and 45 rear = 2.8125-to-1 ratio (stock 1982-3 XJ550 Seca and all XJ550 Maxims)
16 front and 44 rear = 2.7500-to-1 ratio
17 front and 46 rear = 2.7059-to-1 ratio
17 front and 45 rear = 2.6471-to-1 ratio
17 front and 44 rear = 2.5822-to-1 ratio (highest top speed)

Note that the 16/46 (2.8750 ratio) combination was stock for the 1981 XJ550 Seca only, while all other XJ550 models used the slightly "slower" 16/45 (2.8125 ratio) combination for a more overall "balanced" performance (but please note that direct comparisons of gear ratios are not the entire "story", as transmission gear ratios and wheel/tire sizes also affect the final performance, but the above figures are provided just for basic comparison purposes).

Also, XJ550 Seca owners can reduce their RPM's by about 300 rpm's (at highway speed) if you use a 4.00 x 18 rear tire (Dunlop and Avon still offer this size) instead of the stock 110/90 - 18 tire.

 

thanks for that intel. If there is room ( I have not looked yet) by all means that is a good option. thanks